npm install doesnt create package.json file and makes a global installation

[lukasz21]

I'm opening this issue because:

• [x ] npm is producing an incorrect install.
• [x ] npm is doing something I don't understand.
• [x ] npm is producing incorrect or undesirable behavior.

What's going wrong?

How it should be:
I use npm install underscore.string command to make a local installation in a folder without a package.json file. In theory this should give the following result:

• makes a local installation of package and CREATES a package.json file.

What I get:
What I get as a result is this:

• makes a global installation of package and DOSEN'T CREATE a package.json file.
  I have the same issue with others packages.

How can the CLI team reproduce the problem?

I'm not sure, but: I have the newest version of node.js [8.11.3 LTS] and npm [6.1.0]. And I still get this issue.

supporting information:

• npm -v prints: 8.11.3
• node -v prints: 6.1.0
• npm config get registry prints: https://registry.npmjs.org/
• Windows, OS X/macOS, or Linux?: Windows 7 HP

[DanielRuf]

What does npm config get output?

[lukasz21]

npm config get shows:

; cli configs
metrics-registry = "https://registry.npmjs.org/"
scope = ""
user-agent = "npm/6.1.0 node/v8.11.3 win32 x64"

; builtin config undefined
prefix = "C:\\Users\\Admin\\AppData\\Roaming\\npm"

; node bin location = C:\Program Files\nodejs\node.exe
; cwd = C:\Users\Admin
; HOME = C:\Users\Admin
; "npm config ls -l" to show all defaults.

[DanielRuf]

Ok. Did you already try a clean reinstall of node and npm?

[lukasz21]

No, I will give it a try. But I will write about results later, because I'm finishing computer work for today.

[lukasz21]

Hi, so I tried to reinstall node and npm. It didn't change anything.
The same problem occurs.
'npm config get' command shows the same as before.

Don't know if it's important, but:
The problem occurs only when I try to make a local installation to a a folder without a package.json file.
If I create in this folder package.json file, before I began to install locally a package, then the local installation works. Then the package is only in the folder.